MSCE student Mariah Peart honored as one of 10 New Faces of Civil Engineering

February 14, 2019

Mariah Peart, MS student in Civil Engineering, has been named one of ten “New Faces of Civil Engineering” by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Every year, ASCE honors ten college students and 10 young professionals whose early career accomplishments mark them as the profession’s future stars.

Ms. Peart’s career in civil engineering has been a little bit like building a house. Peart took note of her parents’ desire to design and build their own house in Brunswick, GA. “I loved to look at home design books and blueprints with my parents,” Peart said. “I was always a math person, so I liked to look at the measurements of how big a room was. And I loved the art side of it all too. That’s what really sparked my interest. That’s how I began to go down the civil engineering path.”

Peart’s initial interest began at home, but her passion for the profession flourished when she saw what she could do for her community. She joined a research team to help the Georgia Department of Transportation install an over-height clearance detection system. Her love for math was no longer theoretical — it was helping to reduce vehicle-bridge collisions.

Her latest work is bringing the future to Statesboro, GA. Peart is developing 3D models of two of the city’s busiest intersections. Using 3D laser scanning and close-range photogrammetry, Peart’s work will help Statesboro city engineers redesign the intersections, resulting in better traffic flow and, most importantly, fewer accidents. “It felt really great to be a part of something that can help to improve the community,” Peart said. “When we started seeing just how complex the intersections were, we saw how many people were having vehicle accidents. To be a part of a project that can help improve motorist safety in the city, it feels very heartwarming, knowing we can use our skills to help make our community better.” She also completed a project that created 3D models of historic barns near Statesboro. The models will serve as virtual preservation for the Bulloch County Heritage Society to document the history of the local area.